Soviet Air Force

The Soviet Air Force was the combat branch of the Soviet Union's air forces, the home defense one being the Soviet Air Defense Forces. The Air Force faced its greatest challenge during World War II against Nazi Germany, but it also fought in the Korean War.

History of the Air Force
In 1918 the Soviet Air Force was formed out of communist elements of the Imperial Russian Air Force after the Russian Revolution of 1917. Using Sukhoi, Tupolev, and Mikoyan-Gurevich as their main aircraft producers, the Soviet Air Force was first challenged in 1941 in World War II, fighting the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany. The Soviet air force was destroyed on the ground in 1941, but their massive work force quickly produced more planes and air warfare became a major part of the eastern front of the Second World War. The USSR's air power led to its assistance with the bombing of Germany to assist the United States' USAF and the United Kingdom's RAF in attacking the Nazi home front.

In the aftermath of World War II the Soviet Air Force continued to prove an efficient fighting force, sending pilots to fight in the Korean War (1950-1953). During the war, they recorded 335 MiG-15 losses but 1,106 (possibly much more) aerial victories. 52 Soviet pilots were made "aces" for their fighting skills during the aerial war, and the Soviet Air Force assisted in the repulse of the Allied invasion of northern North Korea along the Yalu River, and in the air above it, "MiG Alley".

During the Vietnam War (1955-1975) the Soviet Union did not send pilots to fight in the war, but sent planes, anti-aircraft guns, ammunition, and advisers to assist communist North Vietnam against South Vietnam and the United States. They also aided their allies' air forces, but did no further fighting in wars. In 1991, they dissolved with the Soviet Union.